Michael Patrick Brady

My review of the new TV on the Radio album, Dear Science, ran today in the Boston Phoenix.

I count myself lucky that in 2003 I was randomly assigned their first EP, Young Liars for review at Brainwashed. It’s nice to be ahead of the curve on a phenomenon. Still, although I’ve enjoyed their work since, I never really thought they delivered on the promise of Young Liars. It’s still their best music, in my opinion. Dark, brooding, and intensely original. Everything since has seemed lighter in comparison.

Dear Science, (comma included) doesn’t do much to change that feeling. I enjoyed it, as I’ve enjoyed all their albums, but it still doesn’t live up to the high expectations I’ve (perhaps unreasonably) held them to.

Buy at Amazon
Dear Science,
TV on the Radio

Desperate Youth,
Blood Thirsty Babes
TV on the Radio

Young Liars
TV on the Radio

Related Reviews
Young Liars
TV on the Radio
Brainwashed, 2003

Desperate Youth,
Bloodthirsty Babes
TV on the Radio
Brainwashed, 2004

In the review I talk about “Red Dress” and “Family Tree,” both of which are good songs, but in the back of my mind I can’t help but feel that they’re so straightforward that they lack the kind of twisted, unique flavor that has made TV on the Radio so compelling.

Ultimately, it’s nitpicking. Three full-length albums later it’s probably time to give up hope that the sound of Young Liars will reappear at full strength. TV on the Radio is still an excellent, interesting, and provocative band, and Dear Science, is very satisfying, even if the extra comma drives the copyeditor in me crazy.

I feel like I’ll return to this album more often than Desperate Youth and Cookie Mountain, perhaps because there’s enough distance from my hopes and expectations. Dear Science, has definitely gotten me excited about TVOTR again, pulling out the old records.

I do think, however, that whatever there next album is, it needs to find a different sound to keep things interesting.